Five Bridges Trail Description

The Five Bridges Trail in northwestern Pennsylvania uses a portion of the former Pittsburgh and Shawmut Railroad corridor, which ran from Brockway to Brookville.

Begin at the western end of the trail in Allens Mills, where parking is available. The rail-trail traverses a scenic wetlands area, then cuts through shale hillsides as it heads east, ending just outside of Brockway.

The trail follows Mill Creek, crossing the waterway with several bridges that give the trail its name. On your journey, watch for beavers that have made dams along the creek, as well as great blue herons and other types of birds that call the wetlands home.

Note that the trail is still being improved. The surface varies from ballast with cinders to loose gravel, and there are some spots that can be mushy after a hard rain.

Parking and Trail Access

A parking area is located near the western end of the trail in Allens Mills on Reitz Bottom Road, just east of its intersection with Allens Mills Road. From Interstate 80, take exit 90, SR 830 North. Follow SR 830 for 3.2 miles, then turn left onto Red Barn Road. Follow Red Barn Road until it ends (1.4 miles) at Allens Mills Road. Turn right; after 0.2 miles, turn left onto Reitz Bottom Road. The parking area will be on the right after a few 100 feet.

A variety of backroads lead to this parking area, so it would be best to use a GPS or online map website to get directions, if not coming from Interstate 80. Using an address of "500 Reitz Bottom Road" should get you close.

There is currently no access point at the eastern (Brockway) end of the trail.

Have anything to add about this trail?

Related Content:

Five Bridges Trail Reviews

A Real Treasure

The Five Bridges Trail is rough, swampy and somewhat isolated- which is exactly what makes it so awesome. I drove 80 miles to ride this trail and it didn't disappoint. This is a perfect trail for anyone who has a bike capable of handling mildly rough terrain and enjoys being in nature. I felt like I was exploring and not just cruising a bike path. It goes through wooded areas and wetland. I'm hoping this trail stays the way it is and doesn't get smoothed and groomed making like most of the other rail trails. Variety is a good thing.If you have a mountain or a fat bike and want a scenic but easy ride you should give this trail a try.

5 Bridges Trail; not for the novice biker!

Beautiful scenery along the trail. This one needs a lot of work but was a great experience. Make sure you take the bug spray, they were awful, and take along plenty of fluids! This is definitely a Trail for a mountain bike, many very rough & rocky areas as well as many soft/muddy areas.